# US 12,006,741 B2 · Vehicle hood lever assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,741 B2 - Document ID: US12006741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/243,237 - Filed: 2021-04-28 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-28 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc.; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc.; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Bobby Fuentes; Takeharu Iwata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006741B2 ## CPC - E05B 83/243: {Hood clamps, i.e. individually actuated, usually yielding hooks} - B62D 25/12: Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) - E05B 83/24: for car bonnets - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A vehicle hood lever assembly has a latch mechanism, a latch lever and a striker structure. The latch mechanism has a latching member movable between a hood locking orientation and a hood unlocking orientation. The latch lever attaches to the latch mechanism at a location spaced apart from the latching member movable between a hood catching orientation and a hood release orientation. The striker structure has a main striker member and a secondary striker member. With the striker structure moving toward the latch mechanism, a surface of the secondary striker member contacts a portion of the latch lever moving the latch lever from the hood release orientation to the hood catching orientation. In response to continued movement of the striker structure toward the latch mechanism, the main striker member engages the latching member and is restrained against further movement with the latching member being moved into the hood locking orientation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle hood lever assembly comprising: a latch mechanism having a latching member movable between a hood locking orientation and a hood unlocking orientation; a latch lever attached to the latch mechanism at a location spaced apart from the latching member and being movable between a hood catching orientation and a hood release orientation, the latch lever having a first end, a second end and a cam member that extends from an area of the latch lever between the first end and the second end; and a striker structure having a main striker member and a secondary striker member, the secondary striker member being spaced apart from the main striker such that with the striker structure being moved toward the latch mechanism a surface of the secondary striker member contacts a portion of the latch lever moving the latch lever from the hood release orientation to the hood catching orientation, and in response to continued movement of the striker structure toward the latch mechanism the main striker member is configured to engage the latching member and be restrained against further movement with the latching member being moved into the hood locking orientation; the latch mechanism including a support plate formed with a slot with the latching member being attached to the support plate such that with the latching member in the hood releasing orientation, the main striker is movable within at least a portion of the slot, and with the latching member in the hood locking orientation, the main striker being held in a fixed position within the slot by the latching member, the first end of the latch lever having a hook shape that is dimensioned to engage the secondary striker member with the latch lever in the hood catching orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch lever has a first end, a second end and a cam member that extends from an area of the latch lever between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first end of the latch lever has a hook shape that is dimensioned to engage the secondary striker member with the latch lever in the hood catching orientation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 3, wherein the second end of the latch lever extends in a vehicle forward direction with the latch mechanism installed to the vehicle body structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 4, wherein the cam member extends in a direction parallel to the first end and perpendicular to the second end of the latch lever. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cam member is attached to the latch lever via mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cam member is attached to the latch lever via welding techniques. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism includes a support plate with the latching member attached to the support plate for pivoting movement about a first pivot pin; and the latch lever attached to the support plate for pivoting movement about a second pin spaced apart from the first pivot pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism is configured to attach to a vehicle body structure that includes a hood movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the vehicle body structure, and the striker structure is configured to attach to the hood for movement therewith such that the main striker and the secondary striker member move toward the latch mechanism as the hood is moved from the open position toward the closed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein with the first end of the latch lever engaging the secondary striker member in the hood catching orientation, the hood is located between the closed orientation and the open orientation such that the hood is prevented from moving upward to the open orientation by the hook shape of the first end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the latch lever extends in a vehicle forward direction with the latch mechanism installed to the vehicle body structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cam member extends in a direction parallel to the first end and perpendicular to the second end of the latch lever. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cam member is attached to the latch lever via mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cam member is attached to the latch lever via welding techniques. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism includes a support plate with the latching member attached to the support plate for pivoting movement about a first pivot pin; and the latch lever attached to the support plate for pivoting movement about a second pin spaced apart from the first pivot pin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism is attached to the vehicle body structure at a location adjacent to an engine compartment defined within the vehicle body structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle hood lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism includes a support plate formed with a slot with the latching member being attached to the support plate such that with the latching member in the hood releasing orientation, the main striker is movable within at least a portion of the slot, and with the latching member in the hood locking orientation, the main striker is held in a fixed position within the slot by the latching member.